Johnson Controls Recognized With Group's Top Award for Its Efforts in Developing Diverse Suppliers
Firm is Selected as 2004 'Corporation of the Year' by Michigan Minority Business Development Council
PLYMOUTH, Mich., Oct. 7 -- Johnson Controls was recognized as "Corporation of the Year" for 2004 by the Michigan Minority Business Development Council (MMBDC) for its outstanding efforts in supporting and developing diverse suppliers.
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Representatives from MMBDC presented Johnson Controls with the award at the group's 21st annual recognition dinner last night. The event, attended by more than 3,000 people, was held at Cobo Hall Conference Center in Detroit.
Johnson Controls -- a major, global manufacturer of vehicle interior systems, batteries and building controls -- has operated an innovative program to recruit and develop diverse suppliers since the early 1990s. In fiscal-year 2004, the company purchased approximately $1.05 billion in goods and services from diverse firms. In 2003, Johnson Controls achieved a special milestone, being named to the Billion Dollar Roundtable as one of just 12 companies -- and the only auto supplier -- to make $1 billion in purchases from diverse businesses.
"At Johnson Controls, we've been passionate about supplier diversity because it helps us achieve our mission to continually exceed our customers' increasing expectations," said Keith Wandell, president of the Automotive Group for Johnson Controls. "We are thrilled to receive this recognition for our diversity business program, which is the result of great efforts from the purchasing groups at Johnson Controls, our supply base and our business partners."
The Corporation of the Year recognition earned by Johnson Controls was for companies in the Industrial Purchasing Sector - Tier-one Suppliers. This year marks the seventh time in the past nine years in which the supplier has gained this award from MMBDC.
MMBDC, a voluntary organization with more than 2,000 members, works to create links between major corporations and minority businesses. The MMBDC Corporation of the Year Award is presented to firms that actively include certified minority suppliers in their procurement opportunities; assist in the development of minority suppliers; promote supplier diversity and business development within their corporation and to their vendors and other businesses and organizations.
At the event, Reginald Layton, Johnson Controls' director of diversity business development, was nominated for 2004 Corporate Minority Business Advocate of the Year. In addition, six Johnson Controls purchasing representatives were nominated for the 2004 Corporate Buyer of the Year Award. The nominees were Joseph Abair, Dave Bergman, Jim Bos, Terry Nadeau, Tiffany Smith and Jeffrey Sweitzer.
Within the Diversity Business Development model at Johnson Controls, "diverse" suppliers include companies that are owned by minorities, women or veterans -- and those that are designated by government agencies as small businesses or disadvantaged businesses.
Here are highlights of Johnson Controls' recent activities and achievements in support of diverse suppliers and minority-owned firms:
The company...
-- Has integrated "diversity business development" as a key component of
its strategic business plan. Purchases from diverse suppliers,
including those owned by minorities and women, are targeted to grow
each year.
-- Requires its vendors to develop and implement their own diversity
business development programs.
-- Has pledged to include diverse suppliers in divestitures, lead
supplier arrangements, joint ventures and strategic alliances.
-- Has created successful partnerships in support of diverse businesses.
For example, Johnson Controls is a joint-venture partner in
Bridgewater Interiors, LLC of Detroit, a minority-owned firm with
contracts to supply complete seat systems for Cadillac, Ford, Lincoln
and Honda cars and trucks.
-- Sponsors educational fellowships for officials from minority-owned
companies. Each year since 1998, Johnson Controls has funded
fellowships that enable executives to attend continuing-education
programs at the Tuck Graduate Business School of Dartmouth College in
Hanover, New Hampshire. Johnson Controls also has funded fellowships
for minority executives at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. This
year, Johnson Controls doubled the number of educational fellowships
it is sponsoring, to a total of 12.
-- Convenes trade shows and other events to promote purchases of
goods and services from diverse firms.
-- Implemented standardized internal processes throughout the company for
recruiting, training and using diverse suppliers nationwide.
-- Provides ongoing mentoring and training for customers and diverse
suppliers throughout the United States
-- Adopted web-based systems to provide business opportunities for
diverse suppliers, measure performance, and promote diversity-oriented
business solutions to customers.
-- Has provided significant support to the leadership and mission of
MMBDC via its executive-on-loan program.
Johnson Controls is a global market leader in automotive systems and facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non- residential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and services, including comfort, energy and security management. Johnson Controls , founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (U.S.A.).
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NOTE TO EDITORS: A photo of John Barth, chairman and chief executive officer for Johnson Controls, is available from Debra Lacey at (734) 254-5735. For access to other Johnson Controls news releases and additional company information, visit the company's site on the World Wide Web at http://www.johnsoncontrols.com .